Effect of core power variation on crud deposition behavior on fuel cladding surface

BackgroundFor a pressurized water reactor (PWR), under the synthesis effects of primary water chemistry, reactor operation mode, system facilities replacement, fuel design and management, the corrosion products in primary coolant will deposit on the outer surface of fuel cladding, which is commonly called fuel crud. Fuel crud formed on the cladding surface may result in crud induced localized corrosion (CILC), crud induced power shift (CIPS) and raise the primary source term. The deposition behavior of fuel crud is affected by both the corrosion products concentration and the core boiling rate.PurposeThis study aims to investigate the influences of core power variation on the corrosion products concentration and the core boiling rate, and eventually evaluate the fuel crud deposition states under different core powers.MethodsThe core crud mass and the maximum crud thickness on fuel cladding surface were estimated by the CAMPSIS, an independent crud behavior analysis software developed by China Nuclear Power Te